Benjamin Leggett

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 06/12/2017 - 15:18

First Name:

Benjamin

Last Name:

Leggett

Date of Birth:

Thursday, December 26, 1878

Mother's Name:

Mary Leggett nee Carlick

Father's Name:

Thomas Leggett

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, December 2, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, March 21, 1953

Place of Death:

Essex, England

Details:

Benjamin Leggett (Service No 5148), was born in Durham, England.

He married Esther Thompson, in England, in January 1899. Benjamin and Esther arrived in Australia, with their family, in 1913.

At enlistment, with the Waratah March, he was 37 years old, worked as a quarryman and lived in Kiama, N.S.W. Benjamin embarked on SS Makarini, with 1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcement, on 1st April 1916. He arrived in France on 17th May 1916, and joined the 1st Battalion in the field, on 18th June 1916. Benjamin was wounded in action at Pozieres, France, sometime between 22nd and 25th July 1916. He was evacuated to hospital, for teatment of a gun shot wound to his arm, returning to duty on 5th September 1916. Benjamin saw service on the Western Front, and was wounded a second time, on 10th August 1918, in a gas attack. He was returned to Australia in December 1918, and discharged medically unfit, due to senility, on 19th April 1919.

In 1953, Benjamin returned to England for a holiday, but collapsed soon after the ship arrived.

Benjamin died in a hospital in Essex, and is buried in England.

Benjamin is commemorated for his service on the Kiama War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, LEGGETT BENJAMIN